Vibration transmission member, ultrasonic treatment instrument, and method of manufacturing vibration transmission member
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12575851-B2
Publication Date
2026-03-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
A vibration transmission member includes a main body, a treatment portion that is provided at the distal end of the main body, a first covering formed of a material that has an electrical insulating property and has a thermal conductivity lower than a thermal conductivity of the main body, which covers a part of a surface of the treatment portion, and a second covering formed of a material that has an electrical insulating property and has a thermal conductivity lower than the thermal conductivity of the main body. The second covering is integrally formed with at least a part of the first covering and varies in thickness in a circumferential direction of the main body. The second covering includes a first area and a second area in the circumferential direction, such that a thickness dimension of the first area is smaller than a thickness dimension of the second area.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a vibration transmission member that transmits ultrasonic vibration to apply ultrasonic vibration to living tissue. The vibration transmission member includes a main body and a distal treatment portion with a treatment surface configured to apply the ultrasonic vibration and a back surface opposite to the treatment surface.
The treatment portion excludes the treatment surface from coverage while including at least the back surface covered by first and second coverings. The first covering is formed of a material having an electrical insulating property and thermal conductivity lower than the thermal conductivity of the main body, and the second covering is formed of a material having an electrical insulating property and thermal conductivity lower than the thermal conductivity of the main body and is located on the first covering.
The second covering includes a first area and a second area located adjacent to each other in a circumferential or peripheral direction of the main body, with the first area disposed closer to a jaw side than the second area. A thickness relationship is defined in which the thickness of the first area is smaller than the thickness of the second area, and additional embodiments include a curved portion and cutouts in the first area, including regions where stress concentrates.
Claims Coverage
The patent portion provides three independent claims covering the covered vibration transmission member, an ultrasonic treatment instrument including a jaw, and a further vibration transmission member configuration with a curved treatment portion and cutouts.
Two insulating, low-thermal-conductivity coverings excluding the treatment surface
A vibration transmission member comprising a main body configured to transmit ultrasonic vibration, a distal treatment portion configured to apply ultrasonic vibration to a living tissue, a treatment surface configured to apply the ultrasonic vibration and a back surface opposite to the treatment surface, with first and second coverings formed of materials having electrical insulating property and thermal conductivity lower than that of the main body, and covering the treatment portion except for the treatment surface and including at least the back surface.
Circumferential thickness differentiation of the second covering
The second covering includes a first area and a second area adjacent in a circumferential or peripheral direction of the main body, the first area being closer to a jaw side than the second area, and the thickness of the first area being smaller than the thickness of the second area.
Jaw-gripping ultrasonic treatment instrument
An ultrasonic treatment instrument comprising a vibration transmission member and a jaw configured to grip a living tissue between the jaw and the vibration transmission member, wherein the vibration transmission member includes the covered distal treatment portion.
Curved treatment portion with opposed-direction cutouts
A vibration transmission member comprising a distal treatment portion including a curved portion curved in a first direction, with the first area including a first cutout on a side of the first direction and a second cutout on a side of a second direction opposed to the first direction, and the thickness of the first area being smaller than the thickness of the second area.
Overall, the claim coverage focuses on a distal ultrasonic treatment portion that applies ultrasonic vibration to living tissue while excluding the treatment surface from coverage and covering at least the back surface with electrically insulating, low-thermal-conductivity first and second coverings. The second covering is defined with a first area disposed closer to the jaw side and thinner than a second area, and additional structural constraints include a curved portion and opposed-direction cutouts.
Stated Advantages
Suppressed temperature rise on the back surface to avoid unintended tissue effects.
Elimination of gaps to prevent tissue clogging.
Reduced high-frequency current outside the target region.
Improved treatment performance.
Crack suppression by tailoring thinner or cutout stress-concentration regions while enabling manufacturability.
Documented Applications
Ultrasonic treatment instruments that apply ultrasonic vibration to living tissue, where the treatment portion is configured to grip living tissue between the jaw and the vibration transmission member.
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